chiropractor military necks

So, my neck has been hurting me. Has it ever happened to you that a nerve feels as if it's lodged in your neck?

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Before we left for my brother's wedding, my neck was feeling like that. And it hurt. Of course it hurt. But I thought it would just go away. It's happened to me in the vague past I'm sure, but this time it wasn't going away. So when we returned from our large Michigan trip I made an appointment w/the community chiropractor, who happens to be our friend and also goes to our church. I went on the 2nd and he took x-rays and adjusted me. I feared that he was going to snap my spinal cord in half and kill me but I turned out just fine.

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I went back today and in his office was my neck x-ray hanging off the lighted board...

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He said I have a "military neck," which just means that it's straighter than it should be, it's lacking the normal curve like in that photo above. This is what's causing the pain and it can be corrected through adjustments.

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I just sat their staring at my own bones and it was so strange, a little freaky even. Really, I was struck w/how people can actually believe that our physical body is all that there is to us.

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On our way back from aforementioned trip, we listened to a Christian program featuring a dialogue between an atheist and a Christian. They wrote a book called, "Deepest Differences: A Christian-Atheist Dialogue" where they respectfully discuss each other's viewpoints. It was interesting, but very sad. The atheist was an evolutionist and believed that we are animals. He said he loves his grand children just the same as animals love their off-spring, as if it's just simply instinct. He believed that there is nothing more to him than his physical body, that his thoughts and mind are just functions of his brain. When he dies, he will just cease to exist and he is okay with that.

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As I looked at my x-ray, I was struck w/how strange it was to look at "me." I never think of myself as if I'm solely physical, flesh and bones. I am so caught up w/the spiritual aspect of my life that I forget I live in a body, as it were. How depressing to think that those bones are all that there is.

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In college while studying Anatomy and Physiology, I had the same thoughts. How crazy to believe that all we are is a piece of meat. That all that happens in my brain, the communication that goes forth from God and myself, is just meat. That we could be solely physical and nothing more. It's just ludicrous to me.

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I'm so thankful that my bones look strange to me. That I don't think of myself the way that atheist does. I have such a hope that I can't stand waiting most of the time. I simply can't wait to be united w/my Creator...

Bond Falls

The day after the wedding on Sunday June 28th, we drove about a half hour from Iron River to Bond Falls. My mom's Bondurant family accompanied us: Her brother, Bob, his wife Maryanne and two girls Emily and Grace.

It was a pretty drive, but it took longer than we had anticipated and made us late for the 1pm opening presents thing w/the newlyweds.

Squishy needed a nap

Prince Charming

Don't go in the water little girl

I needed one of those leashes - had to hold her hood instead. Haha

Going for a hike

The boy on the other side of the falls

What a good brudder

Sisters with the cute boy. What a nice smile he has.

No more smiles

Ladies man

Nathan and Ana's wedding

The forecast for that Saturday, June 27th, was originally a 70% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The day before they were saying a 30% chance... The morning of the wedding dawned overcast and chilly. By 130pm it was pouring down rain. The wedding took place at 3pm with the same overcast sky and chilly temperatures but NO rain. And actually, I wonder if that helped with pictures - no squinting or shadows.
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Anyway, the wedding was beautiful. I had never been to such a gorgeous wedding. Ana's mother had previously been a florist and I'd venture to say that she was a pretty good one =). She did all the flowers, obviously, but the other decorations and centerpieces as well. It was just amazing, especially from my point of view; this South Dakota girl who has very little decorating and creative sense.

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I was a hostess so I was there early helping to decorate. Caryn hot glued all these flowers to blue, green and white ribbons and we hung them from the large, open picture windows of the shelter. There were hanging balls of flowers alternating w/large glass vases w/more flowers. It was just all so pretty.

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The shelter

The decorations still needing to be put up. See the ribbons and flower balls?

The head table and centerpieces.

The alter.

The chairs.
If you would like to see nearly all of the photos, just go to my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105433&id=610031113&l=5afff67c3c

Here is Nathan and Ana at the alter that her dad made. He is a carpenter and has a shop in their basement. It's a family of creativity!

Here is Noah in the kitchenette we and my parents and sister stayed in - all 7 of us. Noah is all dressed up and ready to head out into the rain for pictures.

Nathan awaits his bride!

Here is my Noah and the other Noah holding hands. It was so sweet. When it was time for them all to sit down, Noah wanted to stay w/his new best friend as he called him. I should have let him b/c when I separated them, my Noah just cried and made a scene. Terry had to take both our kids to the shelter and didn't see much of the wedding =(.

Ana's dad, Mike, brings her to Nathan. My parents are in the background. And yeah, Terry is taking the photos at this point, sitting on the bride's side w/my other family... =)

They listened to the pastor give a comparison of how computers can be male or female... I forget what his point was, but it was pretty funny. Then they listened to a song.

Then they washed each other's feet after Jesus' example to demonstrate that they want to serve each other in their marriage.

Evie was happy to have a cookie and this other little girl was trying to grab it from her.

Mommy and daughter. The wind and humidity didn't make for a good hair day... And I was so cold that I wore my frumpy jacket the whole time, except during the wedding when my aunt said she could see giant goose-bumps on my shoulders from behind me.

It took several shots to get all four boys to sit still enough for a photo. Noah was smiling like a yawn w/his mouth wide open.

I think he had just kissed Ana. When we were just arriving for the rehearsal dinner, Noah told Terry that he wanted to get married too and he wanted to marry Ana =)

The boys were all swinging so I ran down that hill and snatched a shot. So cute.

A mischievous little squirrel playing in the foot washing basin. She got soaked.

More photos ops. Man, I remember from our wedding that my face hurt from all the smiling and pictures.

Me, Nathan, Mom and Dad.

Yeeeeeeah! I have a new sister. I like her!

Here they are about to depart. Ana changed into this dress for their drive that Nathan picked out for her.

The wedding rehearsal

Here's my brother Nathan w/his then fiancee Ana Johnson. We had just arrived...

So, my brother Nathan is married! And what's more, his new wife Ana, makes him even better than he was alone. She's great.

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We just returned from our hooooge trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last night after traveling 2 days to get there and 2 days to return. Yeeeeah. We are glad to be out of the car, but it is somewhat lonely here after all the excitement of last weekend.

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At any rate. We left on Thursday June 25th and stayed the night at my aunt Nancy's in Willmar, MN. Then we continued on to Iron River, MI. We arrived just in time for the rehearsal dinner. My mom grilled bratwursts and hot dogs at the Bewabic State Park where the wedding was to take place. We ate in a pretty large shelter that put the ones in Canyon Lake to shame - much nicer. After our meal we rehearsed when Ana's brother arrived.

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Noah was a bell ringer along w/another Noah, one of three brothers belonging to Ana's brother. The other two boys were a ring bearer and towel bearer for the foot washing. They were SO cute. The Noahs quickly became friends and held hands all the time after we told them to while walking down the aisle. Adorable.

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If you would like to see nearly all of the photos, just go to my facebook page. I'm going to do a post about the wedding next... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105433&id=610031113&l=5afff67c3c

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Stephanie having fun w/her nephew

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Evie stretching her baby legs

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Noah does a "trick" somersault just like he's on a trampoline. They had A LOT of energy.

my new friend

I have a new friend. Terry might not be pleased w/it. Snap certainly isn't pleased w/it. You see, it's a cat. =) That's why this picture is taken from the outside, where I'm hangin w/my new friend. He keeps half yelping and running around to the front door to scratch at it. He's all grown up. He's killed 2 black birds in the last few days...

Did you know that I've always loved cats? Well, less than I used to since my kids came along, but still a lot more than dogs. Yes, Snap is not my favorite addition to the B's household. I like my furniture better than him, probably.

We always had a cat growing up, from before I was even born. They still have a cat, Garfield. Lumpy old punk. Before that was Little Bits who died of kitty cancer. Garfield was the only kitten of hers who we couldn't sell. Before him was Cocoa who hated us, and for good reason. We were all quite young and abusive when she was around. Before her was Cuddles. Before her was a white one that was a fighter cat. Terrible looking thing from the pictures.

I was always so scratched up. I remember once my Gramma K telling me that I should not hold the cat for a while so I wouldn't have any scratches on my arms and legs for my pretty Easter dress.

At any rate, cats make a place feel like home to me. When I walk by houses here and see a cat lounging around outside, I kind of sigh and wish I had one.

Terry is allergic, sort of. He got used to Garfield when we dated, but didn't care for the sniffles he got and the cat hair that covered everything. I guess I don't miss the hair all over my clothes. I don't even have to worry when I wear black.

We got Snap b/c we thought Noah needed a play mate. He's good for that. Noah wrestles Snap instead of his sister. I'm just not that fond on him. He's so needy. Cats are smarter and more independent. When Noah hurts Snap, he just takes it and comes back for more. A cat would have more sense and would hide and scratch. Take that kid!

So anyway, I came home from a walk w/the kids to this little friend peeking out of our garage:

A nice, skinny, little, friendly, calico, kitten-looking cat. What pretty colors eh? My kids were immediately excited but the cat was shy of them. Evie would have waited around a long time for that kitty to show itself again. So I put them to bed and...

...fed the cat. Yes, I did the thing I'm not supposed to do. I fed that cat b/c I liked it so much.

Look at those pretty green eyes! I brought Snap out to see what he would do and as soon as I got him on the lead, he barked and she hissed. So yeah, my dreams are dashed already.

This kitty must be a mother. She sure is skinny though and not in a hurry to get back to her babies. Maybe they're grown...

Eat up kitty. Who knows what Terry will say when he gets home from a meeting at church. Probably laugh...

I like my little friend, though I don't know if we have a future or not. I dunno though. While I wrote this she wandered off and when I went to look for her, she was under the Malibu in the garage =). I like her.

chilly days

This week has been too chilly for swimming in the pool, waking to the park or taking any unnecessary trip outside (mostly b/c I've been feeling lazy due to the overcast sky). So what have we done?

We've play inside. Yes, except in the photo to the left, Terry is home from work sick, which is another reason we're inside. He's holding his belly while he helps Tori with her Sunday school lesson she is to present. Terry is supposed to preach on Sunday!

Anyway, we've been inside a lot this week and I thought I'd show some of what we've been up to.

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Tuesday we did venture out only b/c my friend Karla visited w/ 2 of her kids, Grant and Savanna. Grant tried unsuccessfully to model and teach Noah how to swing...

Noah can now put together this Thomas, Bertie and James puzzle ALL by himself!

Evie has taken after Noah's and flips through books a lot. This afternoon Noah dumped all of them out and they just sat around like this for a while.

I wish Nebraska United Way donated books to kids like in RC. Most of Noah's books are from that.

Evie will get bored during the day, go over to the book shelf here and flip through books all on her own. She doesn't have much patience for me to read to her yet. She wants to do it all by herself...

Queen of the mountain of books.

"Wait," mooed the cow, "I was going to give you some milk for letting me keep my hay," or something like that.